Liverpool set to miss out on two centre-back targets as Arne Slot must look elsewhere

Liverpool are in the frame to sign a new centre-back this season. The club embarks on a new journey with Arne Slot at the helm of its coaching staff, and one of the key additions Slot is likely to make this summer is a new central defender. The Reds have been linked to numerous names over the beginning of the summer, but two popular targets are now expected to sign elsewhere.

Liverpool set to miss out on two centre-back targets as Arne Slot must look elsewhere

Last month, it was revealed by David Ornstein that Liverpool were actively pursuing Lille's Leny Yoro with the 18-year-old turning heads this past season in France. With just a year left on his contract, Yoro was seen as a reasonably priced target with a phenomenal upside for Liverpool to swing at.

However, Liverpool's interest could only be so strong as even weeks ago, the player's dreams were set on that of Real Madrid. Fabrizio Romano recently provided an update to suggest that a deal is now entirely in the hands of Real Madrid as Leny Yoro is "waiting" for the clubs to agree to a transfer. Romano's update, however, does note that Liverpool are still monitoring the situation should a deal collapse between Madrid and Lille.

The other centre-back on the shortlist for Liverpool this summer is Bologna's Riccardo Calafiori. The Italian defender earned high remarks in Serie A this past season, possessing the attributes of a mobile ball distributor who can be a defensive rock on the backend. Calafiori's rapid rise to being regarded as one of the better young defenders in Europe saw him earn a senior nod for the Azzurri at Euro 2024.

Liverpool was one of the first Champions League teams linked to Riccardo Calafiori just after the Euros began. However, it looks as though two fellow Premier League sides have leapfrogged Liverpool in the race to sign Calafiori this transfer window. Arsenal are lining up to secure the services of Calafiori as the player has already accepted a move to Arsenal, and it is now a matter of Bologna and the Gunners agreeing to a fee, per Fabrizio Romano. Chelsea is also namedropped as a suitor for Calafiori, although all eyes are on their London rivals to finalize a deal for the Italian.

With both Yoro and Calafiori very likely to head elsewhere, it will be time for Liverpool management to get back to the drawing board to find a new centre-back for Arne Slot this summer.